Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)

AFRAS has supported the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on a continuing basis since 1976. The RNLI operates more than 220 lifeboat stations whose lifeboats launch more than 6,000 times a year and rescue over 6,300 people.

In the past, AFRAS has helped fund three lifeboats for the RNLI. Two of the lifeboats, Atlantic 21's are named Spirit of America and American Ambassador. The third vessel is a state-of-the-art, 47 foot Trent Class lifeboat, funded entirely by the late Maurice Hardy, Chairman Pall Corporation, and it is named Maurice and Joyce Hardy.

In 2003, AFRAS funded the purchase of a new "IB1" class Inshore Lifeboat that will be replacing the current "D" class. Although it will also be
called "D class", it provides significant improvements in speed, handling, and rescue equipment storage.

For more information on a joint AFRAS/RNLI membership visit How to Support Sea Rescue Services.

The Atlantic 21, which has a top speed of 30 knots, on sea trials at RNLI's Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes.	LI - Arun class lifeboat The Queen Mother stationed at Thurso.	RNLI - D Class	Ilfracombe's Mersey class lifeboat Spirit of Derbyshire, takes her name from the county which helped fund the lifeboat.